Watch Description
What Makes The Lancaster 138 Unique:
The Lancaster 138 embodies the precision, restraint, and quiet confidence that defined Hamilton during the mid-1930s. Manufactured in 1936, this 17-jewel Hamilton movement represents a period when the company had firmly established itself as America’s premier producer of high-grade pocket watches. Known for supplying timepieces to railroad professionals, engineers, and industry alike, Hamilton earned its reputation through meticulous engineering and unwavering accuracy, qualities that remain evident in this movement ninety years later.
The dial strikes a perfect balance between Art Deco styling and functional simplicity. Its soft silver finish is accented by bold black Arabic numerals rendered in a distinctly geometric typeface that immediately reflects the design trends of the era. Slender blued-steel hands sweep across the dial, while the recessed sub-seconds register at 6 o’clock maintains the clean symmetry collectors prize in vintage Hamilton watches. A subtle vertical brushing across the dial catches changing light beautifully, giving the watch depth without distracting from its understated elegance.
Turning the watch over reveals the craftsmanship that made Hamilton movements so highly regarded. The movement features broad Geneva striping, polished steel components, gold jewel settings, and the crisp finishing that became synonymous with Hamilton’s Lancaster factory. Collectors will appreciate the Adjusted designation engraved on the movement, indicating it was regulated for enhanced accuracy beyond a standard production movement. While visually restrained compared to heavily engraved movements of the early twentieth century, its beauty lies in the precision of its finishing and the confidence of its engineering rather than decorative excess.
The Lancaster 138 is housed in Vortic’s lightweight 45mm Lancaster case, precision-machined from solid Grade 5 titanium with a sandblasted finish that complements the dial’s muted silver tones. A matching sandblasted titanium bezel and tumbled Grade 5 titanium crown reinforce the modern industrial aesthetic, while the American-made Black Cordovan leather strap provides a timeless contrast that allows the original Hamilton dial to remain the focal point.
The result is a watch that feels effortlessly refined. From its crisp Art Deco numerals and beautifully preserved Hamilton movement to its lightweight titanium construction, the Lancaster 138 is a compelling blend of American horological history and contemporary craftsmanship, preserving a movement built in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for another generation of daily wear.
Movement Manufacturer Information
The movement inside of this watch was made by Hamilton Watch Company. We call this model "The Lancaster" because the company was located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Hamilton is named after famous Pennsylvanian Alexander Hamilton and is the result of multiple re-organizations of attempted watch companies in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1892, Hamilton had a reputation for superior quality and maintained half of the railroad watch market share during some of the most prolific years of American railroad history. During World War II, Hamilton was integral to the production of accurate timepieces for the Military. Deemed "the watch that won the war," the company established an employee-run newsletter so that employees turned soldiers could keep up with life at the factory. While the original factory still stands as luxury apartments, the company stopped producing watches in the US in 1969. Hamilton now produces watches in Switzerland and is owned by the Swatch Group.
Legal Disclaimer: All product and company names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within Vortic's products and services are the property of their respective intellectual property rights holders, if any. Those intellectual property rights holders, other than Vortic, LLC, are not affiliated with Vortic, LLC, our products, or our website. They do not sponsor or endorse our materials.
Watch Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
- Model Year: 2025
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Diameter: 45mm
- Case Material: Sandblasted Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Titanium
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Titanium
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Hamilton Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3450897
- Manufacture Year: 1936
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Lancaster 138 Unique:
The Lancaster 138 embodies the precision, restraint, and quiet confidence that defined Hamilton during the mid-1930s. Manufactured in 1936, this 17-jewel Hamilton movement represents a period when the company had firmly established itself as America’s premier producer of high-grade pocket watches. Known for supplying timepieces to railroad professionals, engineers, and industry alike, Hamilton earned its reputation through meticulous engineering and unwavering accuracy, qualities that remain evident in this movement ninety years later.
The dial strikes a perfect balance between Art Deco styling and functional simplicity. Its soft silver finish is accented by bold black Arabic numerals rendered in a distinctly geometric typeface that immediately reflects the design trends of the era. Slender blued-steel hands sweep across the dial, while the recessed sub-seconds register at 6 o’clock maintains the clean symmetry collectors prize in vintage Hamilton watches. A subtle vertical brushing across the dial catches changing light beautifully, giving the watch depth without distracting from its understated elegance.
Turning the watch over reveals the craftsmanship that made Hamilton movements so highly regarded. The movement features broad Geneva striping, polished steel components, gold jewel settings, and the crisp finishing that became synonymous with Hamilton’s Lancaster factory. Collectors will appreciate the Adjusted designation engraved on the movement, indicating it was regulated for enhanced accuracy beyond a standard production movement. While visually restrained compared to heavily engraved movements of the early twentieth century, its beauty lies in the precision of its finishing and the confidence of its engineering rather than decorative excess.
The Lancaster 138 is housed in Vortic’s lightweight 45mm Lancaster case, precision-machined from solid Grade 5 titanium with a sandblasted finish that complements the dial’s muted silver tones. A matching sandblasted titanium bezel and tumbled Grade 5 titanium crown reinforce the modern industrial aesthetic, while the American-made Black Cordovan leather strap provides a timeless contrast that allows the original Hamilton dial to remain the focal point.
The result is a watch that feels effortlessly refined. From its crisp Art Deco numerals and beautifully preserved Hamilton movement to its lightweight titanium construction, the Lancaster 138 is a compelling blend of American horological history and contemporary craftsmanship, preserving a movement built in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for another generation of daily wear.
Let customers speak for us
The Movement
The engine that powers this watch is an antique American pocket watch movement. All the gears and springs that make it tell time are roughly 100 years old on average. We call these watches the American Artisan Series because we're celebrating the history and legacy of the artisan watchmakers who built this engineering marvel a century ago in the United States.
The Story
Today most pocket watches are scrapped for the gold or silver of the case (the outside of the antique timepiece), leaving the inside (what we call the "movement") as trash.
We take pride in upcycling these pieces of American history by salvaging as many as we can, then preserving them inside our wristwatches.
Our expert team of watchmakers restores the antique movement and then we manufacture a custom wristwatch case here in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The Strap
We partnered with Worn & Wound to produce a custom set of straps for our American Artisan Series watches. We now have 15 different colors to choose from including our two Horween Shell Cordovan options. These straps are made in the USA and are based on the Windup Model 2 Premium strap that Worn and Wound offers.
